Accession Number
1954/1.369

Title
Whistler with the White Lock

Artist(s)
James Abbott McNeill Whistler

Artist Nationality
American (North American)

Object Creation Date
1879

Medium & Support
etching and drypoint, printed in black ink on pale green laid paper

Dimensions
7 15/16 in. x 5 9/16 in. ( 20.1 cm x 14.2 cm )

Credit Line
Bequest of Margaret Watson Parker

Subject matter
As the title suggests, this self-portrait by Whistler is a quick sketch that highlights the distinctive white lock at his forehead, which is emphasized in this impression by the rich drypoint lines that set off this notable marking. Whistler was quite vain about his "lock" and used to coif it in such a way that it would stand up and referred to it as “his oriflamme, his panache”.

Physical Description
Very loosely drawn image of a man's head and shoulders, the rest of the body is left undescribed. The man has a moustache and curly dark hair, wth the exception of a white patch right at the hairline at his forehead.

Primary Object Classification
Print

Collection Area
Western

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.

Keywords
Figures
bust-length
self-portrait
self-portraits